Lazarus

Lazarus doesn't really do anything unique or mind-blowing. Like his previous works, the protagonist on a wild goose chase in search of something. In this case, he's in search of a doctor who holds the only cure for a medicine that will eventually kill everyone who took it ever. The premise is actually pretty tame, realistic, and contained compared to other Watanabe's works. The characters aren't really standouts, even the protagonist. I would say it's worth the watch if you like his other works Cowboy Bebop, Space Dandy, Samurai Champloo but Lazarus honestly falls short of all of these titles by far. The dubbing also isn't good and breaks the gloomy vibe. I'd suggest the sub if you really want to not break immersion because sometimes the English VA is just...bad. The soundtrack, as per usual from Watanabe, delivers. The score during most scenes helps enhance the gloomy aesthetic that it's going for. Not a bad work by any means but it's not a must watch either.

It was a good show that explored similar themes of loneliness, much like Cowboy Bebop. The animation was solid-Mappa, as always, delivered incredible work. However, I felt the story lacked depth. While the characters' backstories were touched on, there were still many unanswered questions, and I didn't really connect with any of the characters, not even Axel. Given that Cowboy Bebop had twice the number of episodes, that's understandable. I wouldn't call this a bad anime, but I wouldn't say it's a great one either. If you're after action, good animation, a strong soundtrack, and themes similar to Cowboy Bebop, you might enjoy it. I hope that if there's a season 2, we'll see stronger character development.

An interesting series from which I expect a lot in terms of animation and entertainment.

Firstly, because the technical team is of high quality and it's a MAPPA production.

Although the first 2 episodes are easy to watch, the series doesn't escape the flaws of current productions:

• A basic scenario if you're a fan of Japanese animation that's afraid of going too far.

• a main character who's impossible to stop (prison, technology, policeman...) but a girl comes along! We know where this illogic comes from...
• a bunch of kids more intelligent than the population as a whole...

Given the media hype, I hope the anime will have the guts to take off beyond the usual mediocrity of series with an American touch.

To be continued...

Lazarus has a bold sci-fi concept, slick animation, and stylish action that reminds me of classics like Cowboy Bebop. The atmosphere is mature, the music fits the tone well, and the English dub is surprisingly strong. While a few scenes feel rushed or don't land emotionally, the overall presentation kept me hooked. The pacing builds mystery without revealing too much too soon. It explores deep questions about technology, humanity, and survival without being too heavy. The retro-modern visual style gives it a unique feel that anime fans will appreciate. It may not reach legendary status, but it's still a refreshing and thought-provoking ride. I gave it 7/10.

It seems to me that no one except Watanabe fans watched this anime after "Cowboy Bebop". And rightly so. Unfortunately, the work turned out to be too banal, and full of empty characters with meager backstories, to whom the author desperately believes that she can give something more from them in the second season. All that she manages to give is the staging of fight scenes, but even they fade when there is practically no concern for the characters. Trying to outdo her old work was the main desperate mistake of Watanabe, which makes you nothing more than to watch "Cowboy Bebop" again.